The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Coatbridge on Monday 31st May 2021 as part of their week-long Scottish tour , meeting representatives of Turning Point Scotland at their base in the Fountain Business Centre .
After being welcomed by Vice Lord-Lieutenant Gavin Whitefield CBE DL the Duke and Duchess were provided with an overview of the social care services provided by Turning Point ,including its Turnaround initiative , from Chief Executive Neil Richardson. The royal couple then spoke with people supported by its individually targeted programmes to address offending behaviours and problematic use of alcohol and other drugs , working to break down cycles of crime and addiction .
Working in 22 local authority areas in Scotland , Turning Point helps people facing complex and challenging situations including homelessness, mental ill health and substance abuse , and seeks to create pathways for the people it supports to become active citizens in their community .
Over the past ten years , through her official engagements and charitable work , The Duchess of Cambridge has gained an understanding that the root causes of adverse challenges , including addiction , can very often be traced back to the earliest years of a person’s life , and have an impact over generations . This has shaped much of the Duchess’s ongoing work on early childhood through the The Royal Foundation .